Vittoria
Open Corsa EVO SL

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Vittoria
Open Corsa EVO SL $74.00

Item # VIT0092

Description

Built for speed.

After, literally, millions of miles of race testing, Vittoria has developed its new EVO line of Open Corsa tires. And while the each of these cotton-cased tires plays a specific role, the EVO SL differentiates itself from the SX and SC tires in the Corsa line by featuring a slick tread pattern. So, with an emphasis placed on low rolling-resistance over traction, the SL is particularly adaptable to racing and time trials. Or, more simply put, the SL is solely built for speed.

Now, if you're unfamiliar with how the Italians operate, we'll breakdown the title for you. 'Open' is the Italian terminology for clincher, as in the clincher-version of Vittoria's Corsa SL tubular tire. Meanwhile, 'Corsa' translates directly to 'race,' as in, this is a race-designated tire. Put the two together, and add in the evolution designation of 'EVO,' and you have a next-generation tire that's designed for speed. And while we understand that a name is simply a name, the Open Corsa line's results speak for themselves. Simply put, this line boasts more race wins than any other tire in history.

And now that we have your attention, let's dig into the SL's construction. Vittoria gave this tire a 320TPI casing composition, meaning that the casing of the tire (what the rubber is applied to) is comprised of 320 threads per inch. And if you're wondering why there are 'threads,' this is because the EVO SL is a cotton tire. But, don't think that this decreases durability. In fact, Vittoria used a corespun, or 'polycore,' technique for the casing's construction. Essentially, this means that the casing fibers are made by twisting staple cotton fibers around a central filament core, creating one yarn from multiple fibers. As a result, the material is between 40 and 50% stronger than typically spun materials, while retaining a similar, if not lower, overall weight. Additionally, the 320TPI cotton casing provides the ideal stiffness-to-weight ratio for the SL. By this, we mean that the tire's weight hovers around 210 grams, depending on width, while still retaining a perfect level of flexibility for cornering.

Along these lines, you'll notice that the casing's high TPI equates to finer-grade fibers used in its composition. Accordingly, the fine fibers are more malleable than say, 220TPI casings, and this flexibility creates a more adaptable interface for the tire's rubber contact surface during cornering. So, this design provides a higher level of grip than rubber, which is why cotton casings are used on nearly every high-end tubular in the world. Additionally, the weave's density also absorbs a great deal of impact, while also contributing to a low-level of rolling resistance. This equates directly to both comfort and speed.

For this generation of the EVO, the tire receives Vittoria's newest rubber compound, ISOgrip. After two years in development, Vittoria is confident that it's set the benchmark for racing rubber. According to Vittoria, ISOgrip expresses equal grip in both dry and wet conditions and features its lowest rolling resistance to date. However, like any racing tire, these benefits arrive at the cost of a relatively low wear-resistance, but on race day, you're not going to be worried about wear.

The Vittoria Open Corsa EVO SL is available in the color Black and in a 22mm width. And to reiterate, this is a clincher tire with a 'slick' tread pattern, and it's sold individually.

Comment on c_d3410717's review:

Smooooove...

Familiarity:
I've put it through the wringer

Like butter on a bald monkey! Yeah, I don't know what the hell that means either... I put these on my carbon wheel because they are a bit wider @ 24mm, and I've gotten quite used to riding my wide rim wheels with 23mm OC CX rubber. Good: --They're fast. They just roll. --They're comfy. Wider = a bit less pressure. I'm 180-ish and ride then with 105 in front and 108 in back. Paired with Vitt latex tubes, the ride is sublime. --Worried about your tires washing out in a turn. You won't be with these. People ask why I ride top-shelf tires every day. I do it for the same reason a dog licks himself...because I can. Seriously though, if you spend thousands on wheels, why bother with crap tires?

Sure, they won't wear as well as a set of Gatorskins, but they also don't ride like re-tread tractor trailer tires.

And yes, I date parts, and you should too. It lets one know when the part went into service, and the part's lifespan.

--See second picture : Great tires, as long as you don't run over a crack pipe. Seriously...a crack pipe...

Comment on Mark Merrill's review:

Great set of tires!

Familiarity:
I've put it through the wringer

Finally decided it was time to replace my first set of these Vittoria Open Corsa EVO SL's after over 3,000 miles on them. Great set of tires and have never got that many miles out of a set of tires. Smooth ride and great cornering. Fixing to go ahead and order 2 more sets to have on hand.

Comment on sfl3409306's review:

Fast tires

Gender:
Male

Familiarity:
I've used it several times

These are fast tires, even compared to the CX version. Perhaps that's due to them being a little more aero in their 22 mm width versus the CX's 23 mm size. Or maybe it's because they're slicks versus the CX's useless tread pattern.

Don't have many miles on the SL but on a pair of CXs (which Vittoria says are the same except for the tread pattern) I have 1600 miles and the rear looks to have another 300 to 400 miles in it, at the least, and the front should be good for 3000+. Only one flat on the CXs (none on the SLs) and that was a piece of glass that would have cut just about any tire. Booted it with a piece of an old tubular and it's been going strong for a thousand miles since.

Dear Backcountry Staff, Aren't these...

Hi Michael, these are clincher tires. Although our tires that are described as "open tubulars" are sometimes mixed in with traditional tubular tires in search results, we try to include all of the pertinent technical information in the last paragraph of every product description. If you ever have any other questions, feel free to shoot me a note directly at atierney@backcountry.com. For more immediate assistance with product questions, you can also chat or call in to talk to one of our bike experts.